CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

DemocratAmendment · S.Amdt. 121· Senate(119-SAMDT-121)

S.Amdt. 121

Rep. Warner
Age: 72 years
Virginia
Introduced
2/19/2025
Sponsored by
Mark Warner
Cosponsors
None
Changes bill
119-SCONRES-7 — An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.
  1. Introduced
  2. Pending Consideration

What this amendment would do

Mr. Warner submitted SA 121, which aims to add a new rule to the congressional budget process. Plain and simple, this amendment creates a point of order in the Senate against funding the Office of the President or the White House Office under specific conditions.

  • Stops the Senate from considering any legislation that provides new budget authority for the Office of the President or the White House Office.
  • Only applies during a period when there is pending litigation against the President or another executive branch officer or employee.
  • The pending litigation must allege a violation of the requirement that the President shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, commonly known as the Take Care Clause found in article II, section 3 of the Constitution.

How the Rule Can Be Bypassed

As someone who wants to hold our elected officials accountable, it is important to look at how this rule can be set aside. The text outlines a strict voting threshold to get around this restriction:

  • The point of order can only be waived or suspended by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Senators duly chosen and sworn.
  • Sustaining an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on this point of order also requires an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Senators duly chosen and sworn.